Gunmen abduct two farmers in Ondo, demand N10m ransom

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…Police launch rescue operation

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By Dayo Johnson, Akure

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Suspected gunmen have abducted two farmers in Ifira, an agrarian community in Akoko South-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

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Sources said the attackers ambushed the victims on their way to the farm and whisked them into a nearby forest.

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A family member of one of the victims said the incident had been reported to the police and the Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun.

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According to the source, the kidnappers have established contact with the families and are demanding a ransom of N10 million for the victims’ release.

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One of the relatives pleaded for urgent intervention.

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“We’ve reported the incident to the police and the Amotekun Corps in our area. We’re begging the security agencies and the government to help us rescue our brothers unharmed,” the family member said.

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Reacting to the incident, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed that a report of missing persons had been received at the Isua Akoko Divisional Headquarters.

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He said a joint security team comprising personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters, Agbekoya operatives and community volunteers had been deployed to the Oke-Ifira/Idogun forest axis to search for the victims.

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“Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing, with all available operational and intelligence resources being deployed to locate the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Abayomi said.

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The police spokesperson, however, noted that the command was not aware of any ransom demand in connection with the incident.

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“The Command wishes to categorically state that it is not aware of any ransom demand in connection with this incident,” he added.

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Abayomi appealed to members of the public with credible information to assist the ongoing rescue efforts, assuring that all information received would be treated confidentially.

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He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest of those responsible, while urging residents to remain calm, vigilant and continue supporting the police with timely and credible information.

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